Crisis Update: Extreme Hunger in Northeast Nigeria

In parts of northeast Nigeria, intense conflict with militant group Boko Haram has left people totally cut off from humanitarian assistance for almost two years. Nearly 250,000 children in Borno are suffering from acute malnutrition and according to a recent report, the lives of 59,500 people in parts of Borno State are in jeopardy from “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity. Action Against Hunger launched new emergency programs in newly accessible areas of Monguno in Borno State, and in Maiduguri: our teams are racing against time, despite extremely challenging conditions, to save children’s lives and reduce suffering.

Our emergency specialists provided this family in Monguno in Borno state with emergency shelter to protect them from heavy rains.

This is Ummi Mustafa, only 22 months old, and her mother. Ummi’s mother brought her to Action Against Hunger’s mobile clinic in Monguno, where she was admitted for outpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition. In Monguno, our rapid response teams admitted over 250 malnourished children for life-saving treatment in only 10 days.

The week of August 29th, we distributed emergency food rations—including millet, beans, oil, salt and flour—to more than 15,000 displaced people in Monguno who were otherwise unable to meet their basic survival needs. Over the next few months, we will continue meeting the urgent food needs of families forced to flee their communities because of Boko Haram violence.

Our mobile health clinics in Maiduguri and Monguno in Borno State are providing life-saving therapeutic treatment to acutely malnourished children as well as vital health care for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under five years old. In the past 10 days, our health and nutrition teams have conducted 630 medical consultations.

The week of August 21st, we distributed urgent relief items to 30,000 people in Monguno in north Borno State who were uprooted from their homes by conflict. We reached the most vulnerable displaced families with hygiene kits and emergency shelter. Action Against Hunger’s emergency team worked with local community leaders to identify families in greatest need.

These displaced families in Monguno have sought refuge in an abandoned school We are meeting the urgent survival needs of families by providing safe water, emergency shelter, essential relief items, food, and emergency health and nutrition services to save the lives of vulnerable children.

People affected by the Boko Haram conflict in Borno State in northeast Nigeria need your help today. Please help us deliver lifelines to severely malnourished children and displaced families whose lives have been torn apart by crisis.

$25 - provide a family with a full kitchen set. $45 - save a young child suffering from severe malnutrition.$75 - send a food basket that will sustain a family of five for one month.

ABOUT ACTION AGAINST HUNGER

Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children. We ensure families can access clean water, food, training, and health care. We enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 6,500 staff in over 45 countries, our programs reached 14.9 million people in 2015.